These Are Soulful Days

These Are Soulful Days

ASIN: B00000J85T

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Always an effusive pianist with a relentlessly melodic approach, Benny Green celebrates Blue Note's 60th Anniversary by culling eight tunes from the label's back catalog and cutting loose with a drummerless trio that includes former cohorts Russell Malone on guitar and bassist Christian McBride. The harmonic rapport of Green and Malone is immediately apparent in their exacting unison lines to open Horace Silver's "Virgo," which also features McBride's resonant bow work. No longer a wunderkind, the 36-year-old Green solos with youthful intensity (check the dynamic force of "Bellarosa") but also showcases his ensemble maturity by shouldering some of the rhythmic duty and giving Malone ample space to explore a more kinetic side of his muse. Malone's chords, Green's left hand, and McBride's yeoman time-keeping provide plenty of percussive context. Saving the best for last, the trio returns to Silver for a bluesy "Come On Home" that inspires Malone into perhaps the most commanding uptempo passages of his career thus far. --Britt Robson

From Jazziz
As part of the celebration commemorating Blue Note's 60th year, pianist Benny Green chose his set list from original compositions by artists affiliated with the label's halcyon days. Smartly sidestepping any overplayed fare, Green's trio of guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Christian McBride tackles tunes that have faded unjustifiably into relative obscurity. Reviving such finely tuned compositions as these serves as a reminder that a wealth of exquisite material exists beyond the realm of overplayed fake books. As tunes such as Joe Henderson's "Punjab," Horace Silver's "Come on Home," and Lee Morgan's "Hocus-Pocus" come alive again decades after their initial recording, Green takes them one step further with thoughtfully enhanced arrangements. Use of flashy guitar-piano unisons, plenty of stop time (emphasized with the lack of drums), and alternating two-beat/four-beat bass lines ensure optimal interpretation.

Members of this trio have excellent command of their respective instruments. Unfortunately, heavy chops can lead to pitfalls. Green's two-handed runs in octave unison (on Silver's "Virgo") and Malone's sixteenth-note bursts of double-time (on Calvin Massey's "These Are Soulful Days") - albeit amazing from a technical standpoint - border on grandstanding. McBride alone resists temptation to do likewise simply because he can. These fleeting moments aside, sparks fly throughout this exciting, well-played set. And as prime examples of taste and sensitivity, several beautiful ballads (Bobby Hutcherson's "Summer Nights," Dexter Gordon's "Ernie's Tune") receive spacious treatment, emphasizing the maturity that is already theirs.

These Are Soulful Days,Benny Green,Blue Note Records,Jazz,Jazz Music,Neo-Bop,Pop

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!!

Right move Benny!

If you like JAZZ, you must buy this CD

These are superficial showoff days too

Green Without An Original In Sight

These Are Soulful Days
Benny Green
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000J85T
Release Date: 1999-06-15

Tracks:

Virgo
Bellarosa
Summer Nights
Punjab
These Are Soulful Days
Ernie's Tune
Hocus-Pocus
Come On Home

Amazon.com

Always an effusive pianist with a relentlessly melodic approach, Benny Green celebrates Blue Note's 60th Anniversary by culling eight tunes from the label's back catalog and cutting loose with a drummerless trio that includes former cohorts Russell Malone on guitar and bassist Christian McBride. The harmonic rapport of Green and Malone is immediately apparent in their exacting unison lines to open Horace Silver's "Virgo," which also features McBride's resonant bow work. No longer a wunderkind, the 36-year-old Green solos with youthful intensity (check the dynamic force of "Bellarosa") but also showcases his ensemble maturity by shouldering some of the rhythmic duty and giving Malone ample space to explore a more kinetic side of his muse. Malone's chords, Green's left hand, and McBride's yeoman time-keeping provide plenty of percussive context. Saving the best for last, the trio returns to Silver for a bluesy "Come On Home" that inspires Malone into perhaps the most commanding uptempo passages of his career thus far. --Britt Robson

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!!.......2006-05-03

I would give it 10 stars if I could!!

I love this CD and am SO glad that I found it. Benny Green is fantastic and this disc is a work of art. I love the instrumentation, reminiscent of the Nat Cole Trio, but totally unique! As I see it, Benny has it all. He has soul, feeling and a great sense of swing plus the technique to make it all happen.

I dont understand the other reviewer who says Benny is too "Oscarish" in his playing. Yes, you can hear the Oscar Peterson influence but so what??? Is is just sour grapes? I say if you've got it, use it, and Benny plays the hell out of the piano!!

I loved the fact that the tunes on this disc are not well known. Russell Malone and Christian McBride really shine as well.

Highly recommended..I don't think you will be sorry!

Right move Benny!.......2002-07-30

Here is a good example of a talented and intelligent "young" musician. Benny Green. But first of all this "new" trio is really cooking here; they play each track with the right spirit, with intensity, with the right intention. There is a terrific technique all around but not the will to show off. Music here, come first. Moreover I appreciate the will to rediscover and to explore tracks that are classics but not too known or too abused. As a matter of fact the whole cd display a sense of classicism and of innovation at the same time. Authors range from Horace Silver, to Lee Morgan, to Bobby Hutcherson, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Elmo Hope, fantastic Jazz authors, not only unbelievable musicians as they are commonly remembered. Playing again music from these authours is a damn right move in my opinion. Jazz history is full of gems which we can rediscover, and explore in their deepness. Jazz is not only standard tunes!! In the end I expecially love this trio format (piano, guitar, double bass): I find that this trio setting can express jazz at it's fullest, with a sound balance you can't find elsewhere. It's like having a small orchestra made only of stringed instruments. Recently I bought a record from three masters of this trio format: André Previn Joe Pass, Ray Brown. If you want to buy a good effort from three "young lions" you can buy this cd from Benny Green with confidence. But please, don't forget to buy a real article (P/P/B) too!

If you like JAZZ, you must buy this CD.......2002-05-15

This CD is one of the best Jazz Cd I have ever heard! The speed and rythum is extraodinary. The harmeny is like a Be bop that never seems to slow down. Virgo, Swift Brisk are like, follow me if you can! Bellarosa, These are Soulful Days, and Hocus Pocus just cook man, just cook. Summer Night and Ernie's Tune are a mellow walk in heaven. Punjab, is a Weather Report like Bill Evans mix. Come on Home is a Cat walk! A must Buy!!

These are superficial showoff days too.......2001-08-21

Firmly in the Oscar Peterson tradition, Benny Green is so technically gifted, and so Oscarish, that the work of his flying fingers is superficial and flashy, and lacks the depth of truly great music. He is widely hailed for his blues/Silver/Timmons gospel influence, but typically fails to reach the soulfulness that came so naturally to Timmons, Hawes and to Horace. Green's technique is an obstruction as much as a weapon.

Green Without An Original In Sight.......2000-11-07

This CD is a remarkably refreshing effort by the current Green trio. Russell Malone and especially Christian McBride are simply supurb on this set, which explores rarities from the Blue Note songbook.

The Horace Silver tune 'Come On Home' is a highlight of this disc. It displays the hard bop roots of the group and really fires up the creative powers. Other good performances include 'Virgo' and the ballad 'Summer Night'. This CD is definitely a pleasing set of music that really has no particular faults. The only real let down was that the disc only contains around 45 minutes of tunes, which really could have been expanded upon somewhat.

I must admit though, that I generally find that drummer-less groups tend to lack something in the rythym department, luckily this disc does not show any obvious short comings in that department. Overall this disc comes recommended as a fine example of Green's rapidly maturing style. There is nothing truly astonishing in this music however you do get intimate studio session of the highest calibre, performed by three of the best present-day jazz artists around.

These Are Soulful Days
Average customer rating:
These Are Soulful Days
Benny Green
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000056422

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